Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April 30, 2013

I walk into the A&P to grab the old man a six-pack of brews, and also to see if they'll question whether or not it's actually my license, and I really believe the lady thought I was handing her a fake ID. Just smirked at me. Nevertheless got the booze SCORE. Then again she couldn't deny the matching hospital bracelet. So ha.

Chemo-ing out like it's nobody's business. The taste in the mouth and resulting nausea seems to be from the IV drip version of the med that I'm getting, so looks like I'm in for two weeks of three of that fun until about 2014. Disappointing. Whatever, I choose life soooo I'll just deal with it.

Most importantly: it's Kentucky Derby week. And honestly who knows which is the better race this year, the Derby or the Oaks? One thing is for sure: a great two days of racing. My favorite kind of weekend. Right after a two week stretch of cheeming out. Totally what the doctor ordered.

Hope everyone gets out and puts at least a $2 wager on one of the ponies this fine first Saturday in May. Make it interesting, you know? Have a little skin in the game for the most exciting two minutes in sports. Just a suggestion, though...later all!


Sunday, April 28, 2013

April 28, 2013

How does one follow up a blog like the last? Serious concerns here, folks.

Well it was a real nice weekend weather-wise, but until about two hours ago I really wasn't feeling too well. Guess the new chemos are less than friendly with the stomach, and have given me a lingering nasty taste in the mouth and some slight nausea. But hey! Who really cares if it's keeping the tumors away?

Even with the nice weather I go outside and feel somewhat cold. It's amazing how I used to abide by the "over 50 = shorts weather" rule...it was 70 today and I was rocking a long-sleeve shirt and sweats. These red blood cells are gonna have to get their little act together for the summer so I can hit the links (with needles in chest just to be a complete badass and show up all the old geezers on the course) or we're gonna have problems.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great week coming up. Enjoy every minute of it.

Friday, April 26, 2013

April 26, 2013

It's been a long, tough ride of course. You ride around connected to things, tubing, backpacks - needles rest in your chest connected to a catheter that leads directly into your heart to pump poisons into your body in order to remove disease. You go through it because you dream of better days. You go through it because you remember how good life was, is, and can possibly be in the future. You go through it because you really have no other choice. You dream of the day you hear your doctor utter the word "remission".

Today is that day. MRI this morning revealed that the previously worrisome spot on the PET scan last Thursday is still to be monitored but not showing up as a tumor. In essence, radiographically, I am a tumorless human being. Sure, the one near my tailbone will never physically go away, but hopefully it will remain, like the others, completely inactive and dead. In other words, hopefully I'll stay in remission. This is the first of many more steps to go, but sure does it feel like a big one.

I'll continue to receive the maintenance chemotherapy in order to increase the likelihood of the disease not coming back. My hair will grow back, and I'll get some of my life back together, God willing. Things will start to unwind and we'll all just remember this as a dark, dark year. Can't say it hasn't been some experience, regardless of the outcome, though. Certainly a life changing experience - hope I am able to live with this new outlook for many more years.

Later everyone.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

April 24, 2013

Three days deep into the new chemo, and it's been relatively interesting so far.

Lots of moving parts with this chemo: when to take certain pills, when to eat as a result, when to get infused with the chemo down at the Ketts. Trying to work out my own little schedule to make it all happen, and so far so good.

As far as the chemo itself goes - not too bad. Fatiguing more than anything, really. Come home after the early morning chemo session and grab a nice little power nap, then try to get on with my day. It works out fairly well. Really trying to crank out this schoolwork before grades must be in. Determination factor is definitely there. Took a solid nap today and went on to finish and send in two papers. Another big nap tomorrow and perhaps I'll be conquering Earth.....watch out.

Hope everyone's enjoying this true spring weather - not too cold, not too hot, really refreshing. Catch you all soon.

Monday, April 22, 2013

April 22, 2013

What a relaxing weekend it was indeed. Back to the chemo grind today, however. Not nearly as bad as the previous rounds I've had, like they said, but let's see how the week goes...

So the scans were almost good. So close. A blip popped up on the radar around my kidney; quite small, making the doctors unsure of what exactly it is, but near the site of previous involvement in or on the kidney at initial diagnosis. Everything else is seemingly clear, which is pretty sweet. So we'll get a better look at the kidney via MRI to see what's going on there. The plan of action is still the same: maintenance chemo (which actually is the same combo of drugs used for those who have recurrences of the disease and therefore would be the plan of action anyway if the kidney involvement did turn out to be a growth of the sarcoma) and then if that little bit of action on the kidney becomes a worry we'll zap it with some radiation. Maybe back to catching some photons. Nice.

So as for now I'll be doing some homework and perhaps taking a ride around town on this gorgeous sunny day. Maybe check out how the golf game is with a needle in the chest (it stays in for the whole week now, just hanging out there). Catch you later world.

Friday, April 19, 2013

April 19, 2013

"For here all are one, and our hearts are true." - For Boston, Boston College Fight Song

I (luckily, yet unfortunately) was unable to make it up to see my friends at BC due to the manhunt and its corresponding lockdown. But you know what? That's okay - as the BPD, FBI, etc. did some unreal job eventually tracking down and catching this guy without anymore injury - and alive. This is merely the beginning. We'll get to the bottom of this; we always do.

Rest easy tonight. Later everyone.


Thursday, April 18, 2013

April 18, 2013

Absolutely awesome Bob Seger concert on Tuesday night. Crushed some excellent Japanese cuisine beforehand as well - really getting out there and enjoying the time off from chemo. Must be done.

Speaking of getting out there, figured it was time to make my way back up to Beantown to spend some time with all the excellent Boston College humans before their crunch for finals and my start of maintenance chemo. Also included is a quick stop at Quinnipiac to visit the cousin and her roomie and also teach them how to go about closing out an NCAA Ice Hockey Championship (too soon? nah.)

Caught some nice weather and good baseball games this week. Hoping that with this new chemo I'll still be able to get out and about to these games...not going to push it though. We'll see. Also dominated the scans today - all three in a row. Took quite a while to get through, but when you look at the sweet "this person is legally radioactive" card you get at the end of a PET scan, well, it's all so worth it.

Until later everyone.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

April 16, 2013

Amidst all the chaos and confusion, all my friends and acquaintances have been accounted for in the great, resilient city of Boston and its suburb of Chestnut Hill. It makes me sick to my stomach that something like this occurred on a day that Eagles past and present celebrate as a second Christmas of sorts, a festival of spring and achievement. Of course, prayers go out to all implicated.

And back to the reason I wasn't in Boston yesterday - went in to check out the blood counts again just to make sure everything was status quo or on the rise. Everything is on the rise. I'll be good to go for chemo next Monday, with one slight change. After a quick discussion with the docs, we've pushed my scans up a few days, meaning I'll now be getting them all done on Thursday. Excellent. Just in case you all wanted to meet my doctor, here's a quick video spot he did for Sloan. Great stuff.

Take care everyone.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

April 14, 2013

What a finish to the Masters. Solid stuff...if you weren't pumped up about the 72nd hole for both Scott and Cabrera, you don't have a pulse. Also to be noted is that without the 4 stroke swing at the 15th in his second round with that freak shot off the pin, Tiger would have contended and/or won this event. Really unlucky for him.

A good, relaxing weekend was had by all here. Heading back down to the Ketts to get the counts checked out real quick and should have the rest of the week off before kicking off the next chemo cycle. It's an interesting thing, I'm more interested and curious about this next round than I am anxious or worried. I'm sure all these thoughts will change once I have to scramble into battle mode, fighting the side effects to the best of my abilities - always a good time.

Really ready for this spring weather, finally rolling around. Been outside with the pitching wedge, knocking it around the compound a bit. The mediport seems to be cooperating with the swing relatively well, and so perhaps my vision of getting on the course a bit more this summer will come to fruition. Would be swell indeed - I look forward to being out of the house, having been a prisoner of it due to the nasty effects of the high dose chemo. Maybe I'll see some of you out there; I'll be the pale dude whipping the cart around corners at high speeds (half the fun of going golfing).

Have a great week everyone. Get out and enjoy the fresh air!

Friday, April 12, 2013

April 12, 2013

Huge day. Everyone, on this very day in 1999, the mutt of mutts was born. Indeed, she of the youthful exuberance turns a whole fourteen (human) years old today. She's taking it in stride, bouncing around a bit as if she knows it's her birthday yet acting too cool to celebrate. Nonsense I say, and so I sent Bigfoot out to retrieve a cake for our retriever. Turns out Katie's a fan of pound cake...who could've guessed. Add it to the list that includes anything else edible plus faux tree bark. Mutt.

Watching the Masters with Katie, who as we know is a huge fan of the tournament and fancies herself a properly fitted green jacket. I told her ladies aren't allowed membership at Augusta...don't tell her about the two recent additions she hasn't heard about them yet. It's shaping up to be an interesting weekend down south, just wish they had more coverage (maybe on TV from noon?) of play. We make due with what we're given though.

Got it all set up with the doctors that should everything go well with the new chemo scheme-o I'll be able to have Senior Week up at Boston College off. This week immediately precedes graduation and is loaded with festivities/events for the senior class. Fingers are crossed that all goes well with it and I'll be able to make that trip. Also, scans and other appointments are all lined up for Tuesday the 23rd. We'll see how it all goes!

Everyone stay well out there. I leave you with a shot of the birthday girl on Easter with her baseball-themed egg basket during the hunt...she couldn't carry it any other way....
Later everyone.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

April 10, 2013

Unreal couple of weather days we've been lucky enough to have here in the Northeast. Got outside, watched some baseball and broke out the pitching wedge for the first time this spring. After all, it's Masters week.

There's something incredibly right about ending the extremely harsh lifestyle that has been "Chemo, Drop, and Pop" with the blood counts and such right around the springtime. A true revitalization of sorts. Really hoping for a couple of things coming up: the scans look swell and the maintenance chemo doesn't mess with me too bad. That'd be great. I'm all about trying to get out and enjoy this spring/summer after being stuck and feeling miserable this winter. I'm sure I'll find a way regardless.

Katie and I have been chilling like homies. She doesn't like hanging out outside as much as she used to. Which is ironic, because she used to be allergic to trees and grass (some mutt), but now that she's seemingly over it, she's just all about getting back inside and snoozing.  Unbelievable. She wouldn't even caddy for me today...the nerve.

Can't wait for the Masters to start tomorrow. Always look forward to this week every year. I'll be watching intently...let's go Tiger. Later all.

Monday, April 8, 2013

April 8, 2013

Still not out of neutropenia. Come on, man.

This whole no immune system thing is getting sooooo old. Nevertheless we power on. They said it would be a while until the counts rebounded from this round of chemo; 'twas apparently a real doozy. Felt like such, so I guess this is an appropriate reaction from my understandably miffed bone morrow. Like sorrrrrry guys gotta get rid of some tumors, ya dig? They'll forgive me for allowing the whitecoats to do such cruelties to them one day...I hope.

Due to the radiation treatments, the production of platelets has been hit pretty hard. As a result, I've had to get some infusions of the yellow-y looking clotters the past couple of days. One of the protocols to this little procedure is pre-medication of Tylenol and Benadryl to avoid both a fever and allergic reaction from it. Today, for some unbeknownst reason, the Benadryl was ordered via IV. Why? I have no clue. Nevertheless, I didn't fight it - what a mistake. Almost instantaneous loopiness...trippin' on acid? No. Trippin' on Benadryl? Pretty accurate. Try it sometime folks.

Things are otherwise swell, no complaints. Never any complaints. Keep on keepin' on everybody. And if you see my immune system send that prodigal son back, tell him I've got a fattened calf to slaughter in his honor or something. Thanks guys.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

April 6, 2013

Got stuck at the Sloany Ketts all day Friday. Blood counts were quite low, needed to get a boost. Shout out to the donors, keepin' me goin' nowadays.

It's a bit weird to think about it that way, but it's largely true - I'm currently running on someone else's blood. Creepy. But hey, if it works, it works, right? So after that little recharging yesterday, I'm feeling pretty good today. Mouth sores need to get lost; have a feeling they will relatively soon. Once they're gone, I know I'm out of neutropenia. That will be an excellent moment.

Some day of ponies today. The Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby both ran, major preparatory races for the big boy, the Kentucky Derby. Wasn't as impressed with the Wood winner as much as the SA Derby winner, who it needs to be noted is partially owned by Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals. Guess he won't need to travel too far to watch his horse run on the first Saturday in May. Highly entertaining races though, should be a great build-up to the Run for the Roses. Lovin' it.

Final Four, some hockey, and then sleep. Really getting after it. Catch you later.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

April 4, 2013

"Early mornin', April 4...shot rings out in the Memphis skyyyyyyy" - text I wake up to this morning from the Legend of Mountain View, R.P. Tatnell. Nailed it. RIP MLK.

Man this round of chemo is an absolute you-know-what to recover from, and I certainly haven't been as careful as I should be. Luckily, I managed to get away with what I've done so far: carelessly throwing out a hand to turn off the lights and cutting my hand on the electrical box. Guess I have just enough platelets to clot that puppy up. Barely. Nick 1, Infectious-Diseased World 0 BOOYAH. Tons of fight in this hard bod. (such a soft bod whoooo are we kidding. holyyyyyy love handles.)

So I guess post-graduation (assuming yes, I make it happen and graduate...don't underestimate me it's happening I swear), I'll have to come up with some interesting projects to fill my time. Thinking up these ideas has been filling my current time, considering I can't do much else like moving and things of that nature (mainly for fear of bumping into something/cutting myself by accident). Hopefully I'll get the nice fat tax return I'm more or less expecting at this point and be able to utilize it accordingly. For what? Well this is still all quite up in the air...or maybe that's where I'll be? Whoa.

Wish me luck as I go in for blood counts again tomorrow. I'll surely be receiving some platelets, possibly a transfusion...let's hope this doesn't spike a fever. Until later all.



Wednesday, April 3, 2013

April 3, 2013

Snuck out of Sloany today, barely. The counts were just good enough to get out of there unscathed; I enjoy that.

So I'll be back down there on Friday, most likely to pump in some platelets. No big deal. This seventh cycle was a brute, for sure, but if I can get through this week, well, that would be some relief. Hopefully this will be my last neutropenic week. I could totally dig that.

So boring here nowadays. Katie's getting sick of the Food Network. Frankly, so am I; been Netflixing pretty hard lately. Watched "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", about this hardcore sushi chef in Tokyo...was pretty interesting. Then of course followed it with standard sessions of "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and then the Disney classic "Dumbo". Great stuff, no regrets on watching that childhood fave.

Tons of sports to watch tonight, really gotta do work on that remote control. Mets-Yanks-Rangers all at the same time. Wish me luck. Later everyone!

Monday, April 1, 2013

April 1, 2013

This has to be the first April Fool's Day in a long time that I haven't pulled off a joke. I'm losing my edge...this is simply no good.

Tough Easter Sunday, complete with quick emergency trip to the Ketts. Nasty chest pains, but turns out just being a side effect of chemo that caused esophogial pain. Could've fooled me, thought I was having a heart attack. Greaaat times. 

Opening Day of baseball was rather nice. My Pirates lost, which is something us Pirates fans are quite used to. Looked real nice at the ballparks, can't wait to get out to a few games this summer  - especially at that Citi Field, what a joint.

Lots of R&R trying to kick these side effects. I'll be back terrorizing the roads before you all know it. Vroom vroom. Later everyone.